Typewriting machine



I A iil'zz; 1930.

VON REF-PERT TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Sept. 25, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR:

A ril 22, 1930. a MO'N REPPERT 1,1 5 2 1 TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Sept.23, 1927 2 Sheets-Shet 2 mvzmon;

Patented Apr. 22, 1930 v UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE RICHARD voNREIV'PER'I, F HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR r0 UNDERWOOD ELLIOTTFISHER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y. A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE TYPEWRITINGMACHINE This invention relates to power-driven typewriting machines, andmore specifically upon my pending application, filed Septemto that classof machines where power-driven electromagnetic forces are employed todrive the type-bars to. a typing position following a partial depressionof the associated key-levers. I

The present invention is an improvement ber 15, 1927, Serial No.219,607, where the semi-depression of a key-lever vibrates an armature,pivotally suspended therefrom to be shifted into the magnetic field of aconstantly-rotating magnetized actuator, and, through the magneticattraction or cohesion of the armature tothe rotating actuator,completes the depression of the key-lever to a predetermined point Wherethe magnetic control of the actuator is severed in advance ofthe typingmovement, to free. the key-lever which responds to the tension ofitsrestoring spring. \Vith driving means of this character, itisdifiicult for an operator, accustomed to manipulating; the keys by afirm .finger-stroke,

to acquire the softer touch of manipulation for the semi-depression ofthe keys, where' the softest touch of a key Will immediately eflict aclutching engagement with the rotating magnetized actuator, whereuponthe key is withdrawn from under the operators finger, and this resultsin the finger involuntarily following the key in its downward movement,and as a consequence the keys kick back results in a disagreeable shockto the finger.

' The present invention includes a pivoted keylever, a pivoted sub-leverhaving a positive driving connection with the type-bar, an intermediarymember having a driving connection with the sub-lever, and an abuttingor interrupted connection with the key-lever, through which connection apartial depression of the keys-lever vibrates the intermediary memberinto the magnetic'field of a power-driven, constantly-rotating,magnetized actuator where the magnetic attraction between theactuatorand intermediary memher will convey a driving movement to thesub-lever to drive the type bar; said intermediary member interruptingits magnetic attraction with the magnetized actuator, by its throw torelease the sub-lever to the restoring influence of its spring andeffect the against the positive stop enables the oper-- ator to morequickly withdraw the fingers from the depressed keys and the possibilityof double typing is thereby avoided.

There may be times when it is desirable to actuate'the type-carriers inthe usual manner by the key-levers and not by the power-drivenmechanism. In the present organization of the parts means are provided,which, by shifting of a key-lever stop-bar to an inoperative position,enable the key-levers to first vibrate the intermediary member againstthe stationary or inactive power-driving elements,

and then manuall depress the intermediary which becomes a key-actuateddriver tothe sub-lever the key-lever, the intermediary and the sub-leverbeing depressed in unison by the finger-impact at the key, to drive thetyping element to the typing position of the platen, and the down strokeof the key-lever being checked in the usual manner by the impact of thetype-face against the laten and not by the stop-bar. The stopar in thepresent instance is pivotally supported and shiftable by a suitablefinger-piece to operative or inoperative positions, thus providing aconvertible control for the machine that instantly renders the machineoperable for either a manual or a power-driven actuation of the typingelements.

A further improvement includes providing each intermediary member withelectrical characteristics that become automatically effective at theend of a key stroke to release the intermediary from the magneticcohesive grip of the rotating actuator with a minimum of resistance, sothat the separation or release and its connecting and operatingpartsthat are co-operative with the power-driven magnetized actuator.

Figure 3 is a diagram of the electrical circuits, showing the electricalconnections from the motor-circuit through the magnetized actuator.

Figure 4 is a partial front elevation in vertical section, the plane ofthe left-hand half of the figure being taken between the two upper banksof the keys, and the plane of the right-hand half being taken just infront of the magnetized actuator.

Figure 5 is a reduced longitudinal section through the magneticactuator, showing the relative engagement of the solenoid-sections andthe manner of connecting the two end sections to the ring-commutator.

Figure 6 shows a key-lever depressed to its stop-position which operatesto vibrate the intermediary into the magnetic field of the actuatorwithout vibrating its sub-lever connected to the type-bar, the magneticattraction from this point being effective to fully vibrate thesub-lever to actuate its type-bar.

Figure 7 shows some of the parts of Figure 6 drawn downwardly to a pointwhere the sublever has reached the end of its stroke and theintermediary is about to respond to its r'estoring spring whichwithdraws the interme-c diary from the magnetic control of the actuatorand permits both sub-lever and type-bar to be restored to their normalpositions.

Figurg 8 is a modified form of key-controlled connections'to vibrate anintermediary member or armature into the magnetic field of the actuatorto effect the depression of a sub-lever operatively connected to throw atype-bar to type, which, for the compact assembly thereof, renders themagnetic powerdriving features applicable to machines having many banksof keys, as in double keyboard typewriting machines, where each keygperates a type-bar having only a single typeace.

Numeral and alphabet keys 10 and 11. when depressed, operate key-levers12. which. instead of being fulcrumcd upon the fulcrumrod in the usualmanner, are individually ful-- crumed at 13 to the rear end of levers14:, fulcrumed as a series upon a stationary rod 15. Each lever 1 1 hasa pin-and-slot driving connection 16 to vibrate a bell-crank 17 about afulcrum-rod 18 to drive a type-bar 19 upwardly and rearwardly againstthe platen 20, rotatably mounted within a carriage 21 traveling uponcarriage-rails 22 and 23 under the influence of a carriage-motor 24 andcon trolledby a step-by-step carriage-feeding mechanism 25, operated bya universal bar 26, vibrated by each type-bar in typing. The levers 12and 14: may have individual springs 27 and 28 for restoring each leverindependently of the other. From this description it will be noted thateach type-bar has a pair of depressible pivoted levers arranged side byside, one lever having a key and no driving connections with thetype-bar, and the other lever having no key, but having drivingconnections to the type-bar, and the latter will be designatedhereinafter as sub-levers or a type-bar driving lever. To establishtyping co-operation between these two levers 12 and 14, the forward endof each sub-lever may be formed with a downward extension 29, providedwith an adjustable saddle 30, pivotally supporting an interponent orintermediary member 31, having a short arm 32 to engage the under edgeof the key-lever 12, and further provided with a downwardly-extendingarm 33 formed with a section 34 bent over at right angles to present awide flat face.

The series of intermediary members may be held in vertical alignment,when vibrated by their key-levers, by a suitable comb 35, and a workingalignment of the intermediary members with. the key-levers will befurther secured by a comb 36 at the front end of the key-levers. Eachintermediary member 81 is normally held within the comb 35 under thetension of a spring 35 which has a comparatively light tension to permitthe vibration of the intermediary member without vibrating theassociated sub-lever 14. and the tension of each key-lever spring 27 isalso proportionately light, so that only a very light touch of thefinger isrequired to manipulate the machine.

To limit the depression of the key-levers and provide a positivestop-rest for the operators fingers in typing. a rock-shaft 37, having abearing in each side wall of the machine-frame,is provided withastop-bar 38. the upper edge thereof underlying all the key-levers.

The intermediary member 31 may be formed from soft sheet iron having theelectrical properties of an armature to be attracted by a magnetizedbody. which body. in the present instance, includes a series of coils.assembled end to end and enclosed within the metallic sections that takea cylindrical form to become a rotating permanently magnctizahlcactuator for the intermediary niembers, as' fullyv described in mypending application before me'ntioned. The coils 39, i

Figure :3,a're enclosed by metal sections 40 andaltcrnate coils may bewound aridassemQ bl'e'don the' shaft "-11 for oppositepolarities,:indthe series ofsections l maintained upon the shaft 11f betv'teen.suitable heads 42 se- I cured to the shaft.1-lhetrminals 43, of each'endicoil of theseries are conn'ected to' commutator-ringsTH, insulatedfrom theflheads 42 and providcdwitha brush 45 secured to an:insulatorsupport4G onthe side frames of the machine. 1 To drive-the shaft 41, one

end thereof-may carry a worm-gear 47, driven by a worm 48, secured to ashaft 490i an electric motor- 50. heicircuit ofthe-motor ma'yflb'etapped to carry an electric current j through a variable resistance 51to the'two ibrush'es 45, so that whenever-' 'the motor-conv rol switch52-is closed to' start the motor,

- the-current'will pass-.through'coils '39 and I the'sections win becomecontinuously magfieti'zed during the intelVal tlie'motor is' ac- 'tiveiii 'rotating the coils; The shaft'41 and {sectional cylinder 53 mayice-suspended from 1 arms 54', secured to a rock-shaft 55 to formarockable frameor cradle thatis adjustable au i a, a i

" The description up tothispoint' provides fthatthe depression of akey-lever 12 against as a unitfthrough set-screws 56 toraise or.. lowerthe horizontal axis of the magnetic coils of .the cylinder relative tothe armathe stop-bar 38 vibrates the-armature or in tcrm'ed-iary"memberinto the magnetic field ofthe cylindricalactuator, which, through Q"magnetic attraction,promotes a cohesivegrip upon the" armature, and therotating face, of the actuator causes 'the armature-to rollilownw'ard-ly to exert a down pull at the-for- '\\'ard1end' of thesub-lever 14 to Vibrate the "1 a 1 bell-crank 17 type. j r y v 1h inypending application; the Jarmatu're ei-ativc byfthe throw of thearmature to wedge and throw thetype-bar 19 to carries a'non-magneticfcamthat becomes opitself between tliecylin(l er and thearmature and-forcibly separate the la'tter from the Y former, to severthe magnetic "control of the .j'

mingietl'eet" must be'accomplished by the armature "from the cylinder;As this caminertidofthe typing 'e lementsto type. this *animing-oifoperation may have-a'retarding "errata-1 m the type-barsand slow downthe speedof the machine." To overcomesuch "defects; should they 'befoundto exist; the

; "non-magnetic cam isreplaced by a non-magsub-lever and type-bar. p

ithe face of the cylinder the magnetic section ii-t uponthe non-mamnetie flat-face section 5? as a continuation of theflat. face 3% of thearmature. so that nctiescction 57 with non preciable magnetic itc, vMl'cct upon the acquired momentum 'o-fz-thc Ithe stop-bar shoe to slideover it'he'face of the cylinder sub-lever let. to actuate the type-bar.

- manually by the keys single type-face,

of a visible-writing.

having their lower organization of said' comb under the tension'Theifreeaend 67 of -the pushbar 63 is aligined I I of a'key 10f?- 64'and pushes the intermediaryme1nber 68 into the field of the rotarymagnetized. cyl

will roll from vi \tancctroin the cyiliiuicr and no rctardiinr lWhenakey-lever'is depressed to the position of Figure 6, the lever isarrested by of the intermediary member or armature 31 is vibratedagainst the face of the magnetized cylinder Should the keyaleverhave aj.further depression, it .isobviousthat if the cylinderfiiiisstationary,. and consequently demagnetized, the sect on 34 would becomea "Figure 1 to provider-for a full typingde pression of the key-levers,and said bar maybe held ineither position by a flat spring v bearingagainst flat spots on the; shaft a As a, possible modification of thepresent invention the power-actuating"means may 38 and theface of thesection 35L i a semi-depression of be' applied to-fa double keyboardmachine where each key operates a type-bar-having a and where the usualpower driving mechanism cannot be'applied to the closely-bankedconnections to the, type-bars Asshown in Figureq8, eight banks of keys,as 10, ma-y be mounted uponkey-stems 60, ends pi votally, secured toarms of bell-cranks 61, arranged to. vibrate upon stationary rods -62.Depression of the keys vibrates the bell-cranks 61,--having con-'nections at their lower ends to the typing ele- 'ments after the mannerof;well-known styles of typewriters; For purposes of the present parts;the lower arm of-eacl1 bell-crank' 61 is epivotally connected to theforward endrofa pushbar 63, guided hori and having a zontally through. acomb 64' stop-face 65' to normallyengage the; face of to engage with anintermediarymember 68, pivotally connectedto the sub-lever lhuin amanner already. described. Thejdepressi on slides the bar 63 throughthecomb inder' 53,-th'e depression of the 'key being -1i1n-' ited by a stopface .69 strilring'. thecomb '64,

and: the intermediary memberseparating it self by its throw ofthe cvh.nder, as previouslydescribed,-

of ai sp ringGG.

front-strike machine.

from the magnetic'cohesion i through the non-magnetic member 57;;Thesesimple connections of thin flat metal can readilyhefasscmbledwithin aframe having a standard ll'lflClllllGWldtll andeight; or more}ba nks of keys.

- in typing;

It will be noted that the semi-depression of the keys is limited by afixed stop which'is restful to the fingers of the operator and enablesthe operator to more quickly remove the fingers from the depressed keys;that the pendent armature or intermediary member, having a flat facecomposed of magnetic and non-magnetic properties or characteristics,will roll through the horizontal magnetic axis of the rotating solenoiduntil the restoring spring of the intermediary member overcomes thequickly diminishing magnetic forces of the solenoid and without anyappreciable opposition to the momentum of said intermediary member andits connected parts and that the rocking of the saddle 30 upon thelever-extension 29, by suitable set-screws, raises or lowers the normalposition of the armature 33 and adjusts the relative position of thenon-magnetic section 57 thereof to the magnetic cylinder 53, to regulatethe extent of magnetic depression of the armature and typebar lever tothe throw of the type-bar.

Variations maybe resorted to within the scope of the invention, andportions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a constantly-rotating,electromagnetized actuator for a typing mechanism that includes a leverhavin a positive driving connection with a typear, a key-lever, andmeans carried by the type-bar-lever and operated directly by thekey-lever, to magnetically connect said type-bar-lever with themagnetized actuator, to drive the type-bar by the magnetic attraction orcohesion with said means.

2. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a constantly-rotating,electromagnetized actuator for a typing mechanism that in cludes a leverhaving a positive driving connection with a type-bar, a intermediarymember having a pivotal connection with the type-bar-lever and operateddirectly by the key-lever, to magnetically connect'said type-bar-leverwith the magnetized actuator, to drive the type-bar by the magneticattraction or cohesion with said intermediary member.

-3. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a constantly-rotating,electromagnetized actuator for a typing mechanism that includes a leverhaving a positive driving connection with a type-bar, a key-lever, and abell-crank-member pivotally secured to the type-bar-lever and having onearm operated directly by the key-lever to vibrate another arm thatmagnetically connects said typebar-lever with the magnetized actuator,to drive the type-bar by the magnetic attraction or cohesion with saidbell-cranlt-member.

4.- In a typewriting machine, the combinakey-lever, and an tion of aconstantly-rotating, electromagnetized actuator for a typing mechanismthat includes a lever having a positive driving connection with atype-bar, a key-lever normally inoperative to type, and means havingadriving connection with the type-bar-lever and aninterruptiveconnection with the keyle-ver, whereby said means may be presented tothe rotating actuator, to drive the type-bar by magnetic attraction.

5. In a typewriting machine, tion of a constantly-rotating,electromagnetized cylinder, a lever having a positive driving connectionwith a type-bar, a keylever, and an armature having a driving connectionwith the type-bar-lever and operated by the key-lever, said armaturehaving a flat face engageable with the face of the rotating cylinder todrive the type-bar with a maximum of magnetic attraction.

6. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a constantly-rotating,electromagnetized actuator for .a typing mechanism that iiicludes alever having a positive driving connection with a type-bar, a key-lever,an armature-member carried by the type-bar-lever and operated directlyby swingjinto rolling contact with the rotating actuator and drive, thetype-bar by the magnetic attraction or cohesion with saidarmature-member,

the combinaand means earned by said armature-member that the key-leverto become effective during the rolling contact, thereof with theactuator to type, to release said armature-member from the magnetic gripof the actuator to restore the type-bar.

, 7 In a typewriting machine, the combination of a constantly-rotating,electromag netized actuator fora typing mechanism that includes a leverhaving a positive driving connection with a type-bar, armature-membercarried by the type-barlever and operated directly by the key-lever toswing into rolling contact with the rotating actuator and drive thetype-bar by the magnetic attraction or cohesion with saidarmature-member, and means carried by the armature-member that becomeeffective during the continuous rolling contact thereof with theactuator to type, to release said armature-member from the magnetic gripof the actuator to restore the type-bar, said means including anon-magnetic section of the armature-member that rolls into the magneticfield of the actuator.

8. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a type-bar having adepressible driving lever connected thereto, a pivoted key-lever, and apower-driven, continuouslyrotating, magnetized cylinder, of meansconnected to the type-bar-driving lever and shiftable by the depressionof the key-lever into the magnetic field of the cylinder to actuate 7said ."l ar-lever to type.

a key-lever, an

tion with a type-bar having a depressible driving leverconnectedthereto, a pivoted key-lever, and a power-driven, continuouslyrotating,magnetized cylinder, of means having a driving connection with thetype-barlever and shiftable by the depression of the key-lever, saidmeans,.when so shifted by the key-lever, first responding to themagnetic attraction of the cylinder to be subsequently driven by thecylinderto actuate the typebar. 7 Y I v 10. In a typewriting machine,the combination with a type-bar havinga depressible driving leverconnected thereto, a pivoted key-lever, and apower-driven,contmuouslyrotating, magnetized cylinder,-of means having adriving connection with the typeebarlever and shiftable by thedepression of the key-lever, said means, when soshifted by thekey-lever, first responding to themagnetic attraction of thecylinder andthen driven by the cylinder to actuate the type-bar, sald means havingelectrical characteristics operative at a predetermined point of itsthrow to cut off said means from the control of the cylinder to restorethe type-bar lever. I

11. In atypewriting machine, the combination with a type-bar having adepressible driving lever connected thereto, a pivoted key-lever, and apower-driven, continuously rotating, magnetized cylinder, of means hav-I ing a driving connection with the type-barlever and shiftable by thedepression of-the key-lever said means, when so shifted by thekey-lever,-first responding to the magnetlc attraction of the cylinderand then driven by the cylinder to actuate the type-bar, said meansincluding a section having non-magnetic properties that nullify themagnetic cffeet of the cylinder and release the type-barlever at the endof its typingmovement.

12. In a typewriting machine, the com} bination of. apower-driven,'magnet1zed driver operativethrough' its magnetism to drivethe type-bars in typing, levers having driving connections with the typebars, one lever for each type-bar, a magnetic pendent for each leverthat normally is spring-pressed out of the range of said magneticdriver,and manual means to vibrate each pendent into the magnetic grip of thedriverto actuate the lever and drive the type-bar, said meansineluding akey-lever having an interrupted de-' pression' and an interruptiveconnection with the pendent.

' 13. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a power-driven,magnetized driver operative through its magnetism to drive the type-bars1n typing, levers having driving connections with the type-bars, onelever for each type-bar, a magnetic pendent for each lever that normallyis spring-pressed out of the range of said magnetic driver, and manualmeans to vibrate each pendent into the I magnetic grip of'the driver toactuate the- .by said cylinder to actuate the magnetic grip of thedriver to actuate the lever and drive the type-bar, said means includinga pivoted key-lever having a limited depression and an abutting one-wayconnection with the pendent, and a stop-bar common to all thekey-levers, to limit the manual depression thereof in vibrating thependents; v

15. 'In a typewriting machine, the. combination of a typing mechanismincluding a type-bar-actuating lever and a disconnected key-lever, apower-driven, constantly-rotat- .ing, magnetized cylinder, and amagnetic clutch-member having a driv ng connectionv with thetype-bar-actuating lever. and an in terruptive connection with thekey-lever,

whereby said clutch-member, when vibrated by the ey-lever into magneticclutching engagement with the cylinder,'will be driven type-bar independently of the key-lever. I 1

16. Ina typewriting machine, the'combi nation of a typing mechanismincluding a type-bar-actuating lever and pa disconnected key-lever, apower-driven, constantly-rotating, magnetized cylinder, and a magneticclutch-member having a driving connection with the type-bar-actuatinglever and positioned to be vibrated by the key-lever into clutchingengagement with the magnetized cylinder, said clutch-memberautomatically separating itself from the magnetic clutch of. thecylinder at the end of the typing movement by its throw. I 7

, 1-7. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a typing mechanismincluding a sub-lever operatively connected to vibrate a type-bar and akey-lever disconnected from the typing mechanism, an intermediary memberhaving a driving connection with the sub-lever and a depressibleconnection withthe key lever, and a'poWer-driven, electromagnetized,rotating body, said intermediary member, when presented to the magneticcohesive forces of said rotating body by the ,depression of the key,will be operative to vibrate the sub-lever and actuate the type-bar totype. 7

I18. In atypewriting machine, the combination oftype-bars, leverspositively connected to drive the type-bars, a universal, power-driven,rotatable electromagnetized driver, interponents connected to the typebar-levers and normally out of the magnetic field of the driver,andpivoted key-levers operable to selectively bring the interponentsinto the magnetic control of the driver, to actuate the type-bar-drivinglevers independently of the key-levers.

19. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a series of segmentaltype-bars, a series of horizontally-disposed levers positively connectedto drive the type-bars, one lever for each type-bar, a series ofverticallydisposed couplers, one coupler hanging pendent from eachtype-bar-lever, a powerdriven, electromagnetized driver common to allthe-couplers, and a series of horizontallydisposed, pivoted key-levers,one key-lever aligned to each coupler and each key-lever operative whenfully depressed to selectively vibrate a coupler into the magneticcontrol of the driver, to actuate the associated. typebar-driving lever.Q

20. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a power-driven,constantly-rotating, electromagnetized cylinder operative throughmagnetic cohesion to drive the type bars in typing, a pair of leversforeach typebar, one lever having a driving connect'on to the type-bar, andthe other lever pivoted to the first lever and having a key, andan in-'termediary member pivotally secured to the type-bar driving lever to bevibrated by the depression of the key-lever intothe magnetic field ofthe rotating cylinder, to be magnetically attachedthereto to drive thetypebar, 21. In a typewriting machine, the combina 'tion of apower-driven, constantly-rotating,

electromagnetized cylinder operative through magnetic cohesion to drivethe type-bars in typing, a pair of independently-depressible levers foreach type-bar, one lever of each pair having a positive drivingconnection with a type-bar, and the-other lever having amanually-depressible key, an intermediary member having a pivotalconnection to the type-bar-driving lever and swingable by the depressionof the key-lever into the magnetic field ofthe rotating cylinder 'to bemagnetically attached thereto to drive the type-bar, and a stop-bar tolimit the depression of all the key-levers to the swing of the interme-,diary to the cylinder.

22-. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a type-bar mechanismincluding a type-bar-actuating lever and a disconnected key-lever, apower-driven cylinder operative at will to 'be rotatably magnetized or'to be stationary and demagnetized, an intermeever and shiftable by thedepression of the key-lever into the magnetic field of the cylinder todepress said type-bar lever for a fixed throw of the type-bar in typing,and means to regulate the magnetic depression of the typebar lever tothe throw of the type-bar.

I 2st. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a type-bar, havinga depressible driving lever connected thereto, a disconnected key-leverand a power-driven continuously -rotating magnetic cylinder,of a pendantconnected to the type-bar driving lever and shiftable by the depressionof the key-lever into the magnetic field of the cylinder to depress saidtype-bar lever for a fixed throw of the type-bar in typing, and means toregulate the magnetic depression of the typebar lever to the throw ofthe type-bar, said regulating means including a hanger adjustablysecured to the type-bar driving lever to pivotally support said pendant.

25. In a typewriting machine, the combi nation with a type-bar, having adepressible driving lever connected thereto, a disconnected key-leverand a power-driven continuously-rotating magnetic cylinder, of a pendantconnected to the type-bar driving lever and shiftable by the depressionof the key-lever into the magnetic field of the cylinder to depresssaidtype-bar lever for a fixed throw of the type-bar in typing, and means toregto pivotally support said pendant and raise and lower said pendant tothe magnetic axis of the cylinder.

RICHARD VON REPPERT.

diary member having a driving connection with the type-bar-actnatinglever and an infield of the cylinder to be power-actuated, or

vibrated and depressed by the key-lever to

